This report provides an update on the One Herefordshire programme and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire sustainability and transformation plan (STP) submission and seeks the support of Cabinet for the strategic direction to be followed.

THAT:

(a)       the strategic direction of the One Herefordshire programme and of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire STP both be supported;

(b)       the chief executive be tasked with exploring joint commissioning arrangements with Herefordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), as outlined at paragraphs 14-18 below and bringing back proposals for decision;

(c)       the chief executive be authorised to enter into such non legally binding agreements on behalf of the council as may be appropriate to support the development of the One Herefordshire partnership, including potentially forming a shadow strategic alliance between the council, Herefordshire CCG, Wye Valley NHS Trust, 2gether NHS Foundation Trust and Taurus Healthcare, with links to the voluntary and community sector (VCS), and to provide updates on progress as part of future corporate performance reports.

The One Herefordshire programme, and the shadow alIiance proposal within it, provides the framework for whole system leadership and collaboration. This will enable a system wide strategic direction and delivery mechanism to deliver the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Children and Young People’s Plan. In turn, this will drive improved wellbeing for our residents, co-ordinating activities across the council and its health and VCS partners. It will enable the council to engage with wider public sector partners in a co-ordinated manner to increase efficiency and value for money.

Exploring joint commissioning arrangements with the CCG represents an  opportunity to improve the efficiency and impact of the council’s commissioning function alongside that of the NHS, to provider better value for money.

The STP process is intended to provide the central vehicle through which local government and the NHS can work together in order to achieve the ‘triple aim’ of improving the health and wellbeing of the local population, improving the quality and safety of care delivery and securing ongoing financial sustainability.

It is expected that the STP process will be merged with the requirement, flagged by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer in October 2015, for all areas in the country to produce a plan for the full integration of health and social care by 2020. Guidance on this process is expected to be published jointly by the Department of Health and the Department for Communities and Local Government during the autumn, with plans to be prepared by the end of the financial year.